.... have we turned it, are we turning g it or have we not reached it yet?

Yes, I know we've just beaten a poor Scarlets team but some of what we did was excellent and we were a scratch team, cobbled together from academy youngsters (as IMHO the competition is about), some fringe players and others returning from injury. Good to see that too especially Luke and Sam. What particularly impressed me yesterday was the defence, especially when we pushed them back from within a metre of our try line to halfway

We've also had a fantastic comeback win over a Wasps team fighting for their European place and a creditable performance away to La Rochelle, both with an injury ravaged team.

I have been a critic of the coaching team and was one of those stunned by JK's appointment but I'm open to the idea that I may have underestimated him and the rest of the coaches.

TeddingtonQuin.... have we turned it, are we turning g it or have we not reached it yet?
Yes, I know we've just beaten a poor Scarlets team but some of what we did was excellent and we were a scratch team, cobbled together from academy youngsters (as IMHO the competition is about), some fringe players and others returning from injury. Good to see that too especially Luke and Sam. What particularly impressed me yesterday was the defence, especially when we pushed them back from within a metre of our try line to halfway

We've also had a fantastic comeback win over a Wasps team fighting for their European place and a creditable performance away to La Rochelle, both with an injury ravaged team.

I have been a critic of the coaching team and was one of those stunned by JK's appointment but I'm open to the idea that I may have underestimated him and the rest of the coaches.

Well said, and very decent of you to say that.

The desire for instant and sustained success is understandable but unrealistic. If we maintain progress it's a good thing. Let's hope we can now get the magic ingredient that's been missing all along... Consistency.

The desire for instant and sustained success is understandable but unrealistic. If we maintain progress it's a good thing. Let's hope we can now get the magic ingredient that's been missing all along... Consistency.

Thanks but I've not said all is OK yet, just that I've softened my opposition slightly! Baby steps!

The desire for instant and sustained success is understandable but unrealistic. If we maintain progress it's a good thing. Let's hope we can now get the magic ingredient that's been missing all along... Consistency.

Thanks but I've not said all is OK yet, just that I've softened my opposition slightly! Baby steps!

Absolutely! Merely hearing someone say they may have underestimated is welcome as it shows that opinions aren't always entrenched.

Let's see if they can settle into a rhythm, but the hope was always that with some injury returnees we would find a bit extra. I am inclined to think that having Marchant back will make a big difference, as will having Wallace available.

The games over the 6N are all winnable given the returning talent available to us, and if we can put a run of form together we have an easier run in than we have had in recent seasons.

Yes, consistency is important but since our capitulations to Ulster, I'd say we've been pretty consitant, far more so than the 1st half of the season:

Harlequins 50-21 Northampton Saints
BG10 our biggest win over Saints. OK they've not been good by any stretch of the imagination but besides us only Salarycens have put 50 points on them

Sale Sharks 30-29 Harlequins
Losing by a point away at the AJ Bell was a decent result as we'd have won without the brain fart. They've only lost 2 at home on the AP this season and drew with Toulouse

Harlequins 33-28 Wasps
An amazing comeback from 0-21 so yes, inconsistency in defence but what a performance to do so!

La Rochelle 16-7 Harlequins
In a must win for La Rochelle, Quins held them to a much closer result than either Ulster or Wasps in a performance widely described as 'gutsy'

Harlequins 35-7 Scarlets
A great performance from a scratch team as described elsewhere. Defence was excellent and we looked dangerous in attack

I'd say that while we may not be quite as consistent as we'd all like, I think that considering the changes in personnel enforced on us by injuries and call ups, we have been pretty consistent since out European ambitions were quashed. Maybe that was a blessing in disguise as something of a wake up call for the squad and coaching team.

CookieA 'scratch team cobbled together with academy youngsters' isn't how I'd describe them. 17 of the 23 came through the academy, so will have been well drilled on our processes.
I think our regular strong performances in this competition is down to the strength of the academy. The bookies had us as 28 point favourites, so the result was exactly as predicted.

Still enjoyable, mind.

A mixture of youngsters and those returning from injury is what I was getting at. I was surprised to see how long Luke and Joe stayed on considering their long lay - offs

Hmmm, not convinced we've turned a corner yet. You can put a positive spin on the losses, but we've won three and lost three in our last six games I think. Not bad losses, and I do think we're improving, but think we're still too inconsistent. Hope we are getting there though

T-BoneHmmm, not convinced we've turned a corner yet. You can put a positive spin on the losses, but we've won three and lost three in our last six games I think. Not bad losses, and I do think we're improving, but think we're still too inconsistent. Hope we are getting there though

That is a bit harsh - we lost two of those away by one point at places where a win is hard and one was away to La Rochelle where we did better than anyone else and had njthingg to play for. One of our losses was because of one action by Marler.

Agreed if we were on form we wouldn’t have lost those games but still - it feels a lost more consistent to me.

TeddingtonQuinYes, I think you're right and it seemed to me that the West won it but then they are nearest to my seat

They did, but they were much better choreographed. Good fun though, and the players seemed to enjoy it - Joe marchant was watching incredulously when we had a scrum over on the right. Hopefully it can become a tradition.

T-BoneHmmm, not convinced we've turned a corner yet. You can put a positive spin on the losses, but we've won three and lost three in our last six games I think. Not bad losses, and I do think we're improving, but think we're still too inconsistent. Hope we are getting there though

That is a bit harsh - we lost two of those away by one point at places where a win is hard and one was away to La Rochelle where we did better than anyone else and had njthingg to play for. One of our losses was because of one action by Marler.

Agreed if we were on form we wouldn’t have lost those games but still - it feels a lost more consistent to me.

Clearly, what we need is njthingg to play for each week...

"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to bleat about it all over the internet"

T-BoneHmmm, not convinced we've turned a corner yet. You can put a positive spin on the losses, but we've won three and lost three in our last six games I think. Not bad losses, and I do think we're improving, but think we're still too inconsistent. Hope we are getting there though

That is a bit harsh - we lost two of those away by one point at places where a win is hard and one was away to La Rochelle where we did better than anyone else and had njthingg to play for. One of our losses was because of one action by Marler.

Agreed if we were on form we wouldn’t have lost those games but still - it feels a lost more consistent to me.

Clearly, what we need is njthingg to play for each week...

One of the big problems last year is that dug ourselves a hole so deep, even the amazing comebacks fell short e.g. Newcastle, Exeter.

I'll be more convinced when we start winning convincingly from the front in competitions that matter e.g. Big Game 10 rather than needing to come back from big deficits to lose (Sale) or nick a win (Wasps), bearing in mind the latter of these two mattered not a jot.

Performances are improving, though, and wins of any nature build momentum.

Three of the next 4 games are at home and the other is away to a vulnerable Leicester side. To get back in the top 4 mix we need to be winning the home games and give ourselves a chance at Welford Road. Then we can talk about turning corners.

T-BoneHmmm, not convinced we've turned a corner yet. You can put a positive spin on the losses, but we've won three and lost three in our last six games I think. Not bad losses, and I do think we're improving, but think we're still too inconsistent. Hope we are getting there though

That is a bit harsh - we lost two of those away by one point at places where a win is hard and one was away to La Rochelle where we did better than anyone else and had njthingg to play for. One of our losses was because of one action by Marler.

Agreed if we were on form we wouldn’t have lost those games but still - it feels a lost more consistent to me.

Clearly, what we need is njthingg to play for each week...

One of the big problems last year is that dug ourselves a hole so deep, even the amazing comebacks fell short e.g. Newcastle, Exeter.

I'll be more convinced when we start winning convincingly from the front in competitions that matter e.g. Big Game 10 rather than needing to come back from big deficits to lose (Sale) or nick a win (Wasps), bearing in mind the latter of these two mattered not a jot.

Performances are improving, though, and wins of any nature build momentum.

Three of the next 4 games are at home and the other is away to a vulnerable Leicester side. To get back in the top 4 mix we need to be winning the home games and give ourselves a chance at Welford Road. Then we can talk about turning corners.

Agree that the next 4 Premiership games will be a good indicator of where we are and whether we're moving forwards or not.

As you say we've got three home games, and Leicester are all over the shop at the moment, plus we've got quite a few players returning from injury. And whilst we will be hit by the internationals leaving for the 6Ns, so will the teams we're playing (bar maybe Newcastle) so we can't really blame that too much.

If we win three out of those four games (ideally all four but four in a row is always tricky) then I'll start to believe we've turned a corner.

If we continue our one win, one loss pattern then I think it'll show that we're still approaching the corner, let alone starting to turn it.

I think you'll find that we are very nearly at the summit, then things will get easier on the downhill slope, after that its a short trip through the tunnel before we find the light at the end...from there its a short trip to sunny uplands...and I think the corner is 2nd on the left after the traffic lights.

We record all IP addresses on the Sportnetwork message boards which may be required by the authorities in case of defamatory or abusive comment.
We seek to monitor the Message Boards at regular intervals.
We do not associate Sportnetwork with any of the comments and do not take responsibility for any statements or opinions expressed on the Message Boards.
If you have any cause for concern over any material posted here please let us know as soon as possible by e-mailing
abuse@sportnetwork.net